My father was a tailor, and I followed in his footsteps. One day when I was still a teenager, a woman, claiming expertise in fashion design, asked for permission from my parents to stay with me and teach me the craft while working for her. Unbeknownst to me, she…
My name is Mantoa Takalo, also known as Matseleng, and I grew up in Steynsrus, Free State, South Africa, during the 1990s. My childhood wasn’t all sweetness and light, but it wasn’t marked by extreme deprivation either, for which I am profoundly grateful. Throughout the early years of my…
I remember the first time I set foot on that luxurious yacht, feeling the salty breeze of the ocean against my skin. Growing up in Kenya, I never imagined I’d find myself amidst the opulence of private yachts, but fate had its own plans.
I was always drawn to the…
When we are children we are told that we need to go to school and university in order to succeed. It was advice that I took to heart throughout my life even when going to university after finishing school was not an option due to lack of finances and…
If you want to see change in the world, it should start with you. Then, you can even influence the community as a whole. I believe you decide what you want in life. I was raised in the Free State with my grandparents.
I didn’t receive much love from my…
Dating someone with albinism has been a journey filled with both beautiful moments and challenging realities. He’s an amazing guy, kind, funny, and so strong. But our relationship isn’t without its challenges, especially when it comes to societal perceptions.
In my community and in most African communities, there are deep-rooted…
The journey of raising my teenage daughter as a single mom has not been easy. Some days, the weight of responsibilities feels like an huge mountain, but I push through because I love my daughter with everything in me.
The absence of her father is what makes everything even harder….
This is the story I tell, a story that unfolded after a heartfelt conversation with one of the clients I was assisting. It was just another day at work when I had the privilege of crossing paths with one of the most striking women I had ever encountered. Her…
As African women, we should share our stories because it gives us a voice in a society that doesn’t want to hear us. Sharing our stories will challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about African women and contribute towards the empowerment and representation of African women in various spheres of life….